Aldon Smith to sit out next game for 49ers

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
| 5:13 p.m.Sept. 22, 2013

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. Smith is active and set to play against the Colts two days after being arrested and jailed on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. Smith is active and set to play against the Colts two days after being arrested and jailed on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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FILE - In this Aug. 25, 2013, file photo, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith stands on the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings in San Francisco. Smith was arrested Friday morning, Sept. 20, 2013, on suspicion of driving under the influence in San Jose, police said. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)— AP

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FILE - In this Aug. 25, 2013, file photo, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith stands on the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings in San Francisco. Smith was arrested Friday morning, Sept. 20, 2013, on suspicion of driving under the influence in San Jose, police said. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
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In a photo provided by the San Jose Police Department, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith appears in a booking photo. Smith was arrested Friday Sept. 20, 2013, in San Jose, Calif., on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession, authorities said. (AP Photo/San Jose Police Department)— AP

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In a photo provided by the San Jose Police Department, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith appears in a booking photo. Smith was arrested Friday Sept. 20, 2013, in San Jose, Calif., on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession, authorities said. (AP Photo/San Jose Police Department)
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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) walks on the field during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)— AP

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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) walks on the field during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, rear, during the first quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)— AP

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, rear, during the first quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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SAN FRANCISCO 
Linebacker Aldon Smith will miss Thursday night's game at St. Louis and perhaps sit out longer, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York said Sunday.

Smith will seek treatment following his arrest Friday for suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. After Sunday's loss to the Colts, Smith apologized and acknowledged he will get help, but didn't field questions.

"First off, I wanted to apologize to the team, the organization, my family and everybody I let down," he said. "I also wanted to let it be known that this is a problem and it's something that I will get fixed, and that I'll do everything in my power to make sure that this never happens again. I also wanted to let everybody know that once again I'm sorry."

Smith started for San Francisco and had five tackles in a 27-7 loss, two days after he was arrested and jailed early Friday morning after his truck hit a tree. York defended the organization's decision to play Smith.

"Our opinion is if you're sitting someone down and paying them to sit down when they're going to seek treatment in the future, we didn't feel like that was an appropriate punishment," he said. "We're not trying to circumvent what the NFL will do. This is about making sure that Aldon has the opportunity to work on something, to get better, and he knows that he has our support and hopefully he has everybody's support in something that has been very difficult."

York expects Smith to get help on his own, but the 49ers won't interfere.

"I think Aldon is going to take steps on his own," York said.

Smith is a key pass rusher and sacks leader for the 49ers, and coach Jim Harbaugh had said leading up to Sunday that the NFL would decide how to punish the third-year pro, who turns 24 Wednesday. He had a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks last season, second in the NFL.

When asked about Smith getting help, Harbaugh said "there's a process there we'll apprise you of at the appropriate time."

Smith has had a rash of run-ins with the law that raised questions about his character.

"It was disappointing, but we support him, and knowing that what he wants to do is not a one-day fix, it's a long-term fix for Aldon," York said. "And Aldon is willing to fight for himself and try to make this right, and I will see it through, and I will support him. I will take any shots that anybody wants to direct at the organization. They can direct at me, and I will support Aldon as long as he is willing to work at this and fight to get better."

Earlier this month, a lawsuit was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court naming Smith by a Northern California man who said he was shot at a party at Smith's house on June 29, 2012.

The players charged a $10 admission and $5 per drink, the lawsuit said. Smith and former 49ers tight end Delanie Walker, 29 were allegedly intoxicated on Smith's balcony when they later fired gunshots in the air while trying to end the party, the lawsuit said.

Before the 2012 home opener last September, Smith was the passenger in a car accident in Santa Clara County in which the driver swerved to avoid hitting a deer. Smith sustained a cut beneath his right eyebrow. He apologized and insisted he had grown up.

The 49ers selected Smith seventh overall in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Missouri. He became an instant impact player like many of the others chosen by general manager Trent Baalke in the past three drafts.